Getting Involved

Individual vegetarians can get involved and help us with our work! See below for some idea and suggestions

It’s World Water Day on the 22 March 2009. If you are interested in sending letters or emails to your local papers so feel free to include any of the text below if you think it useful.

World Water Day - 22 March 2009

International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of fresh water and advocating the sustainable management of freshwater resources. Food manufacture is one of the most water intensive activities in the world and it takes far less water to produce plant foods than meat. A vegetarian diet helps to decrease water consumption and pollution.

Some quick facts and figures for World Water Day

· Over 1 billion people worldwide do not have access to clean water and more than double that number do not have proper sanitation.

· Livestock production accounts for over 8% of global human water consumption.

· It is estimated that by 2050 food demand will roughly double and therefore demand on water allocations for agriculture will rise.

· Estimates of the water required to produce a kilo of beef vary, from 13,000 litres right up to 100,000 litres. The water required to produce a kilo of wheat is somewhere between 1,000-2,000 litres.

If you would like to find out more about water use and food production then call 0161 925 2000 to receive a free copy of Why it’s green to go vegetarian or visit www.vegsoc.org/environment

Fed up with the same shows on TV?

Currently TV shows seem to have an emphasis on meat and the killing of animals seems to be definitely overplayed by the companies making TV shows. It’s important that they know there is an audience in the UK for a more compassionate, delicious and colourful cookery show. If you are fed up with seeing the same old shows rehashed and yearn for a fresh vegetarian cookery show then please think about writing to TV Channels and production companies.

Below are addresses of companies which we will keep up to date as new shows appear.

Let’s see if we can broaden their horizons, thanks for your support.

Optomen create the following shows: Feast with Heston Blumenthal, Market Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay – Cook Along Live, What To Eat Now – Summer, The F Word, Great British Menu and more

Optomen Television,

1 Valentine Place,

London,

SE1 8QH

Dear Editor

With climate change making headlines and many people unsure of what they can do to help, giving up meat is positive choice.

Your readers may be interested to know that farmed animals produce more greenhouse gas emissions (18%) than the world’s entire transport system (13.5%)? It makes you think doesn’t it? The only genuine way to cut down on these harmful emissions is to stop eating meat.

To find out the facts about how diet impacts on the environment The Vegetarian Society has produced a report ‘Why it’s Green to Go Vegetarian’. It’s available at www.vegsoc.org/environment, or you can call 0161 925 2000 for a free copy of the booklet which explains why vegetarians’ meat and fish-free lifestyle reduces their impact on the environment.

Vegetarianism is not only a healthy and ethically sound diet it is a major step to help reduce greenhouse gases, conserve water and conserve land.

With best wishes